LUKE 16:3 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. εἶπεν
2. legō
3. said
4. -
5. 30040
6. VIAA3··S
7. said
8. said
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53830
1. Δέ
2. de
3. And
4. Then and
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y33
11. 53831
1. ἐν
2. en
3. by
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53832
1. ἑαυτῷ
2. heautou
3. himself
4. himself
5. 14380
6. R···3DMS
7. himself
8. himself
9. -
10. Y33; R53836
11. 53833
1. αὐτῷ
2. autos
3. -
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3DMS
7. himself
8. himself
9. -
10. -
11. 53834
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53835
1. οἰκονόμος
2. oikonomos
3. manager
4. -
5. 36230
6. N····NMS
7. manager
8. manager
9. -
10. Y33; F53833; F53838; F53847; F53850; F53852; F53853; F53856; F53860; F53872; F53881; F53882; F53898; F53919
11. 53836
1. Τί
2. tis
3. What
4. -
5. 51010
6. R····ANS
7. what
8. what
9. D
10. Y33
11. 53837
1. ποιήσω
2. poieō
3. may I do
4. do
5. 41600
6. VSAA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ do
8. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ do
9. -
10. Y33; R53836
11. 53838
1. ὅτι
2. hoti
3. because
4. -
5. 37540
6. C·······
7. because
8. because
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53839
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53840
1. κύριος
2. kurios
3. master
4. -
5. 29620
6. N····NMS
7. master
8. master
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53841
1. μού
2. egō
3. of me
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53842
1. ἀφαιρεῖται
2. afaireō
3. is taking away
4. -
5. 8510
6. VIPM3··S
7. ˓is˒ taking_away
8. ˓is˒ taking_away
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53843
1. τήν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53844
1. οἰκονομίαν
2. oikonomia
3. management
4. -
5. 36220
6. N····AFS
7. management
8. management
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53845
1. ἀπʼ
2. apo
3. from
4. -
5. 5750
6. P·······
7. from
8. from
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53846
1. ἐμοῦ
2. egō
3. me
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1G·S
7. me
8. me
9. -
10. Y33; R53836
11. 53847
1. Σκάπτειν
2. skaptō
3. To be digging
4. digging
5. 46260
6. VNPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ digging
8. ˓to_be˒ digging
9. S
10. Y33
11. 53848
1. οὐκ
2. ou
3. not
4. -
5. 37560
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53849
1. ἰσχύω
2. isχuō
3. I am able
4. -
5. 24800
6. VIPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ able
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ able
9. -
10. Y33; R53836
11. 53850
1. καί
2. kai
3. -
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 53851
1. ἐπαιτεῖν
2. epaiteō
3. to be begging
4. -
5. 18710
6. VNPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ begging
8. ˓to_be˒ begging
9. -
10. Y33; R53836
11. 53852
1. αἰσχύνομαι
2. aisχunō
3. I am being ashamed
4. ashamed
5. 1530
6. VIPM1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ being_ashamed
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ being_ashamed
9. -
10. Y33; R53836
11. 53853

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 16:1–13: Jesus told a parable about a dishonest manager who acted wisely

In the main part of this section, 16:1–8b, Jesus told a parable that appears only in Luke. In this parable a rich man had hired a man to manage his money and possessions for him. The manager was dishonest in his work, so the rich man said that he could not continue to be his manager. But before the manager left this work, he used his position and money to cause other people to like him. He did this so that they would help him when he no longer had an income.

The main point of this parable is that the manager knew how to use money to make things better for his own future. In this way he was a good example for Jesus’ disciples. The parable does not mean that Jesus approved of the manager’s dishonesty.

In 16:8c–16:9 Jesus commented on the parable and applied it to his disciples. In 16:10–13 he gave other teachings about the proper use of wealth.

Other possible headings for this section are:

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager (NIV)

The dishonest man who was in charge of a rich man’s wealth

16:3a

The manager said to himself,

¶ “The manager asked himself,
¶ “Then/Later that employee thought,

In Greek, this verse begins with a conjunction that many versions translate as “and.” It probably introduces an action that occurred after some time had passed, after the manager had been able to think about his situation. For that reason, versions such as the NET and NRSV translate it as “Then.” The BSB and several other versions do not translate this conjunction. Introduce this verse in a way that is natural in your language.

The manager said to himself: The phrase The manager said to himself introduces something that the manager thought. It represents a conversation that he carried on with himself in his own mind. A similar idea occurs in 15:17.

16:3b

‘What shall I do, now

‘What should I do now?
‘I wonder what to do now to support myself.

What shall I do…?: This is probably a rhetorical question. The manager was thinking to himself. He was expressing uncertainty about what he could do now that he no longer had his job. He was wondering how to get money to buy the food and other things that he needed. Some ways to translate this question are:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
What should I do? (GW)
As a statement. For example:
I wonder what I should do now.
I am uncertain what to do now. I need to find another way to support myself.

Translate the manager’s uncertainty in a way that is natural in your language.

16:3c

that my master is taking away my position?

My master has told me that I cannot work for him any more.
My employer will remove me from my work.
My boss has fired/dismissed me.

now that my master is taking away my position: In Greek and in the BSB, the verb is taking away is in the present tense. It indicates that the action was still happening. The rich man had told him that he could not continue to be his manager. However, the manager’s work would not actually be finished until he had turned in the financial accounts. Consider what verb tense you would use to express this situation in your language.

In some languages a position is not something that can be “taken away” from someone. Use an expression that is natural in your language. Another way to translate it in English is:

My master is not going to employ me any longer.

my master: The words my master refer here to the manager’s employer. The manager was a hired servant rather than a slave. Use an expression that is natural for a hired man to use to refer to his employer.

General Comment on 16:3b–c

In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of 16:3b and 16:3c. For example:

^16cMy master is taking away my job. ^16bWhat shall I do now?

16:3d

I am too weak to dig

I lack the strength to do heavy work like digging/shoveling/hoeing,
I am too weak to work in the fields for pay,

I am too weak to dig: The expression I am too weak to dig may refer to work such as digging ditches or digging in the fields with a shovel or hoe. It was also used to refer to any kind of hard physical labor. In this context it also implies that it was a type of work that people were paid to do.

If the literal expression does not have the right meaning in your language, here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Make explicit a specific kind of digging that is known to be hard. For example:
I don’t have the strength to dig ditches (NLT)
I am not strong enough to use a shovel/hoe
Use an expression that refers more generally to hard physical labor. For example:
I am too weak to work in the fields
I am not able to do manual labor

16:3e

and too ashamed to beg.

and I would feel ashamed/embarrassed to beg for money.
and begging would be too humiliating/shameful.
and as for becoming a beggar, I am too proud to do that.

and too ashamed to beg: This clause indicates that the manager would feel shame or embarrassment if he needed to become a beggar and ask people for money. Another way to express this idea is:

I am too proud to become a beggar

General Comment on 16:3d–e

The two clauses in 16:3d and 16:3e give two options that the manager considered in order to support himself. In some languages it may be good style to express these two alternatives by using a question or by changing the order of the phrases within each verse part. For example:

Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. (NJB)

As for digging ditches, I am not strong enough, and as for begging, it would be shameful.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

εἶπεν & ἐν ἑαυτῷ & τί ποιήσω, ὅτι ὁ κύριός μου ἀφαιρεῖται τὴν οἰκονομίαν ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ? σκάπτειν οὐκ ἰσχύω; ἐπαιτεῖν αἰσχύνομαι

said & by himself & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπεν Δέ ἐν ἑαυτῷ ὁ οἰκονόμος Τί ποιήσω ὅτι ὁ κύριος μού ἀφαιρεῖται τήν οἰκονομίαν ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ Σκάπτειν οὐκ ἰσχύω ἐπαιτεῖν αἰσχύνομαι)

If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: [asked himself what he should do, since his master was taking the management job away from him. He realized that he was not strong enough to dig ditches, and that he would be ashamed to beg for money]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁ κύριός μου

the the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπεν Δέ ἐν ἑαυτῷ ὁ οἰκονόμος Τί ποιήσω ὅτι ὁ κύριος μού ἀφαιρεῖται τήν οἰκονομίαν ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ Σκάπτειν οὐκ ἰσχύω ἐπαιτεῖν αἰσχύνομαι)

The expression my master refers to the rich man. The manager was not a slave, although he was financially dependent on the rich man for his housing, food, etc. Alternate translation: [my employer]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

σκάπτειν οὐκ ἰσχύω

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπεν Δέ ἐν ἑαυτῷ ὁ οἰκονόμος Τί ποιήσω ὅτι ὁ κύριος μού ἀφαιρεῖται τήν οἰκονομίαν ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ Σκάπτειν οὐκ ἰσχύω ἐπαιτεῖν αἰσχύνομαι)

The manager is saying that he is not strong enough to work all day digging ditches in the ground. He is likely using this one kind of manual work to represent all work that would require sustained physical exertion. Alternate translation: [I am not strong enough to do manual labor]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. And
2. Then and
3. 11610
4. S
5. de
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y33
11. 53831
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53835
1. manager
2. -
3. 36230
5. oikonomos
6. N-····NMS
7. manager
8. manager
9. -
10. Y33; F53833; F53838; F53847; F53850; F53852; F53853; F53856; F53860; F53872; F53881; F53882; F53898; F53919
11. 53836
1. said
2. -
3. 30040
5. legō
6. V-IAA3··S
7. said
8. said
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53830
1. by
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53832
1. himself
2. himself
3. 14380
5. heautou
6. R-···3DMS
7. himself
8. himself
9. -
10. Y33; R53836
11. 53833
1. What
2. -
3. 51010
4. D
5. tis
6. R-····ANS
7. what
8. what
9. D
10. Y33
11. 53837
1. may I do
2. do
3. 41600
5. poieō
6. V-SAA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ do
8. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ do
9. -
10. Y33; R53836
11. 53838
1. because
2. -
3. 37540
5. hoti
6. C-·······
7. because
8. because
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53839
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53840
1. master
2. -
3. 29620
5. kurios
6. N-····NMS
7. master
8. master
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53841
1. of me
2. -
3. 14730
5. egō
6. R-···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53842
1. is taking away
2. -
3. 8510
5. afaireō
6. V-IPM3··S
7. ˓is˒ taking_away
8. ˓is˒ taking_away
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53843
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53844
1. management
2. -
3. 36220
5. oikonomia
6. N-····AFS
7. management
8. management
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53845
1. from
2. -
3. 5750
5. apo
6. P-·······
7. from
8. from
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53846
1. me
2. -
3. 14730
5. egō
6. R-···1G·S
7. me
8. me
9. -
10. Y33; R53836
11. 53847
1. I am
2. -
3. 24800
5. isχuō
6. V-IPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ able
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ able
9. -
10. Y33; R53836
11. 53850
1. not
2. -
3. 37560
5. ou
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y33
11. 53849
1. able
2. -
3. 24800
5. isχuō
6. V-IPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ able
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ able
9. -
10. Y33; R53836
11. 53850
1. To be digging
2. digging
3. 46260
4. S
5. skaptō
6. V-NPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ digging
8. ˓to_be˒ digging
9. S
10. Y33
11. 53848
1. I am being ashamed
2. ashamed
3. 1530
5. aisχunō
6. V-IPM1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ being_ashamed
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ being_ashamed
9. -
10. Y33; R53836
11. 53853
1. to be begging
2. -
3. 18710
5. epaiteō
6. V-NPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ begging
8. ˓to_be˒ begging
9. -
10. Y33; R53836
11. 53852

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear LUKE 16:3

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)